Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-07-30

reach that?
As she bounded across the grass-grown
yard she felt the outstretched hand Of her
pursuer touch her flying hair! But it
slipped through his grasp, and with an
agonizing cry she reached tho steps. his
hot breath tanning her cheek.
She barely reached the hall to close the
door, which had stood ajar for years, as
his foot gained the threshold.
Her almost superhuman effort hurled
the dilapidated door from its rust-eaten
hinges, when it fell at the feet of her pur-
suer shattered wreck.
A portion of its frame struck the mad
man upon the side of the head, for the
time stunning him.
She was given opportunity to cross an
adjoining apartment before he recovered
sufficiently to follow.
As she passed swiftly over the floor she
felt it tremble beneath her weight, but she
safely reached the next room, which was
smaller and from which she saw at
glance there was no place of exit save
from the door through which she had en-
tered!
There had been o window, but it had
been long since boarded over. To retreat
was to rush into the arms of her pursuer,
whose wild cries rang in her ears again.
Her heart sunk within her as she realized
how hopelessly she was entrapped.
The door was but shattered frame
which hung upon one hinge, SO that il
could afford her no protection. However,
she showed wonderful self-possession as
she cried out in clear, ringing tone:
"Hold, Mr.. Mitchell! Why do you pur-
sue me?"
He was just entering the adjoining room,
and stopped abruptly at the sound of her
voice.
@What do you mean by this conduct,
Mr.. Mitchell?" she continued, with calm
ness that surprised herself.
ooh, Allie! Allie!" he cried. aare you
afraid of me that you flee thus?"
She realized that her only hope was in
conciliating him. Fortunately for her
purpose the pallor of her countenance
was not clearly seen by him in
the eemi- darkness; equally fortunate for
her, too, was it that she could not see the
fearful distortions of his haggard visage,
else she should not have acted her part
so calmly.
"No. no, Lang" she replied, mot afraid
of you. But your appearance was SO sud-
den and you seemed angered with me.
What have done"
"Come, quick, Allie!" he implored; "fy
with me! They are after us!" and he
glarsd around him like wild beast at bay.
"No one is after us, Lang. You are let
ting your reason get the better of you.
Even my folks do not know am here"
Her words were not without their effect.
He appeared calmer, and his voice lost
something of its harshness as he said:
"You will go with me, Allie?"
@Where do you want me to go, Lang?"
Anywhere to escape them! Come!"
"You may 60 ahead, Lang. will fol-
low soon."
But he was not to be deceived SO easily. |
"No, no, Allie. You do not love me or
you would fly with me at once. But you
shall!" and he started forward.
Eyes, yes; will 60, Lang, only wait a
moment. must rest, am so tired"
Sand I will sit beside you, darling. If
can only be with you, J do not care for
them"
She uttered wild, piercing scream as he
started toward her, his distorted visage
cleaning with fiendish look of triumph. |
He was barely midway upon the floor,
however, when the rotten timbers gave
away with crash and the mad man went
down into the cellar covered with the |
debris.
As his ghostly face disappeared Allie
sank against the wall, weak from the fear
full strain upon her nerves.
The mailman lay motionless amid the |
ruins. He was struck by one of the fall
ing timbers, it was afterwaid found.
Finding he did not move Allie looked
around for an avenue Of escape. There |
was none EXCEPT by the window, and she |
turned to tear off the boards, when the |
sound of footsteps arrested her attention.
A moment later her lover, Frank Lane,
appeared upon the scene, attracted by her |
cries as he was coming up the road to meet
her.
ooh, Frank" she said, save mel" and
sank to the floor in swoon the next mo.
ment.
He soon reached her side, when, bearing
her to the open air, she revived, and they
started for her home.
A party of men were quickly aroused to
undertake the capture Of the mailman. It
was easily done. for he lay pinned under
one Of the floor timbers. His injuria
proved fatal, and it seemed better that his
unhappy existenc had ended.
II was long time before Allie could
pass the site of the ruined house without
shudder, and she never forgot her fearful
adventure.